Labour call for end to Thames Estuary airport spending

Aerial view of Thames Estuary hub airport. Image: Foster + PartnersLabour have urged London’s transport commissioner to block any further spending on lobbying for an airport in the Thames Estuary.

The call comes just days after the government’s Airports Commission announced it wouldn’t include the project – which is backed by Mayor Boris Johnson – on the final shortlist of options being presented to Ministers.

She also asked Sir Peter “to commit to returning any unspent funding from the £5.2m allocation to TfL’s general budget so it can be spent on tangible schemes that matter to Londoners, such as the tube upgrade, and not on fantasy projects that clearly have no future.”

In a statement she added: “I have today called on Peter Hendy to put a stop to this madness and confirm that the Mayor will not be allowed to throw good taxpayer money after bad on this folly.

“It would be totally inappropriate for more public money to be wasted on developing an idea which has neither support nor any realistic chance of implementation.”

In response, a spokesperson for the Mayor, said: “One million Londoners would be affected by the excessive levels of noise generated by a bigger Heathrow and the Mayor remains steadfast to the commitment he made to protect Londoners from the excess noise, pollution and congestion that would be caused by a third runway.

“He will continue to ensure Londoners interests are represented in this critical debate by providing comprehensive responses to Government or Airports Commission related consultations and calls for evidence, while fighting for the right hub solution to London’s air connectivity needs.”

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